Captain Ricky Ponting scored his sixth Test century this year and the 26th of his career in Australia's 239 for eight on the first day of the second Test against South Africa on Monday.
Ponting scored 117 and was looking to guide his side to a commanding total before South African pace bowler Andre Nel grabbed four late wickets, including two in a row, to wrest back the advantage at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
Mike Hussey was 23 not out while Brett Lee was trapped leg before for four in the final over of the day. Opening batsman Matthew Hayden had quietly accumulated 65 before he was caught behind off the bowling of Shaun Pollock.
Nel finished with four for 58 while Pollock finished with three for 46 off 20 overs.
"I was disappointed and thought I let the side down early," said Nel, who had dropped Ponting on 17. "It could have changed the game. I wanted to hang myself at lunch time.
"But I think the best way to respond to the dropped catch is to keep bowling your heart out for your country.
"I think we've got a chance. That dropped catch could have been vital ... (the middle order) could have been exposed a lot earlier. But we'll take 230-8."
Ponting has now scored 1,533 runs at an average of 69.68 this year. The record for calendar-year runs is the 1,710 scored by Viv Richards of West Indies scored in 1976.
He and Hayden combined in a 152-run second-wicket partnership after debutant Phil Jaques was dismissed for two off Pollock's second over of the morning.
The pair were circumspect before lunch after they had initially been under pressure from South Africa's bowlers, who made the most of the moist pitch, which had delayed the start of play by 30 minutes.
Brad Hodge, who scored his maiden Test double century in Perth and was making his first appearance on his home ground, received a tumultuous welcome, with many of the 71,910 crowd still standing and applauding as he reached the wicket.
However he was well caught by Smith at slip for seven shortly after tea to leave Australia 176 for three.
Nel then atoned for his earlier bungle, forcing Ponting to spoon a catch to Hershelle Gibbs at point for 117. He had Andrew Symonds caught by wicketkeeper Mark Boucher off the next ball.
Adam Gilchrist survived the hat-trick delivery but fell to Nel shortly after when he was caught by Gibbs for two, leaving the home side 213 for six.
Nel also had a strong lbw appeal against Hussey turned down, though television replays suggested the ball would have hit the stumps, before he had Warne caught by Nicky Boje for nine.
Lee was then trapped in front by Ntini on the first ball of the last over of the day, though Ponting said the total was not as bad as it appeared.
"The wicket was difficult and the outfield wasn't lightning fast, so that total's probably worth more anyway," said Ponting.
"It's going to be interesting to see how our bowlers bowl on that wicket and how their batsman bat. The ball was still swinging at the end of the day. "If we can get a few more runs and bowl well early, that total might look really good."

==========================================
Australia 1st innings:
------------------------------------------
P. Jaques c Rudolph b Pollock            2
M. Hayden c Smith b Pollock             65
R. Ponting c Gibbs b Nel               117
B. Hodge c Smith b Pollock               7
M. Hussey not out                       23
A. Symonds c Boucher b Nel               0
A. Gilchrist c Gibbs b Nel               2
S. Warne c Boje b Nel                    9
B. Lee lbw b Ntini                       4
Extras: (B-2, LB-3, W-2, NB-3)          10
------------------------------------------
Total: (8 wkts, 89.1 overs)            239
==========================================

Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-154, 3-176, 4-207, 5-207, 6-213, 7-227, 8-239
Bowling: Pollock 20-5-46-3 (1nb), Ntini 12.1-2-34-1, Kallis 18.5-3-59-0 (2w), Nel 22-5-58-4 (2nb), Boje 16.1-3-37-0
Toss: Australia
Umpires: Steve Bucknor (WIS), Asad Rauf (PAK)
Match referee: Chris Broad (ENG)
Crowd: 71,910.